One of the most important and difficult challenges facing social studies educators, particularly world history teachers, concerns the role of Islam--one of the world's fastest growing and most dynamic religions--in historical and contemporary domestic and international affairs. What teachers choose to teach about Islam and how they present it are…

A Puerto Rican teacher of an eighth grade consisting of 33 students (19 girls and 14 boys) at a racially-mixed public middle school found that teaching students about race and gender is a risky venture. The median age of the students was 13.8. The racial demographics were as follows: 45% African-American, 31% Euro-American, 18% Latino, 3%…

Public schools in America are often at the center of controversy over conflicting values and interests. This paper explores three areas of conflict that surfaced in a Virginia community as it shifted from an appointed to an elected school board. The first section explores the three areas of conflict: (1) conflict over what is taught in school; (2)…

During 1993-94 the educational administration faculty at the University of Manitoba (Canada) became involved in a self-study process to examine issues of equality and inclusivity in relation to the masters program. This paper describes an elective course for students enrolled in the Educational Administration Master's Program at the University of…

Many teachers feel uncertain when given the task of teaching peace education because of the relative novelty and controversial character of this field. This document examines some of the difficulties and obstacles involved in peace education. First, various views of society, the school, and the change process are reviewed in relation to peace…

The civic values of democratic societies and the responsibilities of educational institutions to transmit these values to succeeding generations are discussed. Free societies cannot survive unless the values upon which they are grounded are fully comprehended and practiced by each generation. But each generation must also transmit those values…

Arranged in three sections, the book offers practical techniques for introducing environmental education at the secondary level. The first section, on planning, outlines a conceptual framework for environmental education, discusses development of school policy on environmental education, provides approaches to controversial and values issues,…

This book is one in a series designed to provide access to a wide range of selected articles from magazines, newspapers, and journals. This volume contains 32 articles by environmentalists, scientists, educators, researchers, and writers providing effective and useful perspectives on important topics in the study of environment. Articles included…

Designed to assist secondary school social studies, English, and humanities teachers as they teach about the Nazi Holocaust, the second of two volumes serves as a continuing introduction to the concept of human rights. Building on the first volume, which dealt with the roots of intolerance and persecution and precursors of the Holocaust, this…

Focusing on current knowledge of the textbook in American education and society, the 18 papers in this collection represent the views of educators, publishers, state and federal education officers, librarians, authors, and industry critics. Papers in the first section, "Textbooks and Literacy," deal with the role of the textbook in the curriculum;…

One of a series of secondary level teaching units presenting case studies with pro and con analyses of particular legal problems, the document consists of a student's lesson plan, a teacher's lesson plan, and a lawyer's lesson plan for a unit about the enforcement of federal criminal regulatory statutes. The lesson plan presents an analysis of the…

Published for secondary school youth in England, the PROBE series presents provocative information and discussion questions on topical themes. The focus of this issue is on aspects of medicine which raise moral dilemmas for doctors, patients, and society in general. This issue contains case studies which illustrate ethical questions raised by the…

This Yearbook is an expression of the National Council for the Social Studies' conviction that social studies teachers need to recognize their responsibility for introducing controversial issues into the classroom. Examination of social problems serve as a means to teach students how to think, rather than what to think, so that students will be…

One of a series of bulletins designed to aid social studies teachers, this issue serves as a guide in handling controversial issues in the classroom. The need for a policy statement from the local board of education is noted as the first step in allowing the free exchange of ideas. Considerations in deciding to study an issue are suggested:…

Covers the objectives, subject matter, and requirements of a one-semester course based on ethics and national security policy taught within the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland at College Park. The course is designed to give students an opportunity to develop skill in the analysis of moral and ethical issues. (JDH)